National cricket team selector Winston Reid has resigned amid allegations the former Somerset Cup Match and Bermuda opening batsman had disagreed with some of the decisions being made at the national level.

However, Reid, who has been associated with the national cricket team for numerous years, yesterday denied any bad blood had existed between himself and fellow selectors and maintained his decision to resign was based solely around work commitments.

Reid is alleged to have stood down in protest over the decision to include ?seasoned? players in the training squad preparing for July?s International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy Tournament in Ireland as opposed to going with more youth.

?We have seasoned players in the team and I think our biggest problem in the past has been the fact that guys were not fit enough,? Reid told .

?I am not one of the people that feel that guys will change over night . . . certainly not. So the guys will have to be fit, committed and the work rate up top. But the team has been chosen, I signed my name to it and so I don?t disagree with those kind of things. If I didn?t sign my name then they would probably be saying something else.

?But I suspected people would say that. No matter what you do people will have something to say and I was hoping they would say other things. But I don?t look at cricket that way and that?s certainly not the reason for my resignation.?

Former Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) president El James has now taken on the dual role of national team manager and selector in Reid?s absence.

Only last week James? appointment as national team manager created a big stir when several reliable sources revealed that national team players were in protest over the former president?s new role. BCB president Reggie Pearman then lashed out by accusing of ?damaging the whole country?s efforts to properly prepare our team for the World Cup qualifier in Ireland this year? for an article published in last Saturday?s edition.

BCB treasurer Neil Speight confirmed Reid?s sudden decision to relinquish the post.

?Winston Reid resigned due to work commitments and having taken over at Somerset (as coach). Obviously he has his own business and felt he couldn?t commit the time required to do the job properly,? he said.

?Certainly Winston will be missed and we at the Board have been grateful for the service he?s given to Bermuda cricket. He?s been a fantastic resource for a long time.?

Reid, who represented Bermuda during the 1979, 82 and 86 ICC Trophy tournaments, recently replaced Jeff Richardson as cricket coach at Somerset Cricket Club.

?I am a passionate cricket man and I love this game terribly,? Reid continued. ?But I am now heavily committed with my work and I can?t take time out to do a lot of things. I took a lot of time last year and it didn?t work to my advantage. And there comes a time when you have to ask yourself ?what should I do? because I have a family and have to survive.

?Coaching at Somerset is totally different from the national team . . . it?s right next door to my work place and my training at Somerset is centred around me. I make decisions as to when and how we are going to train and I can work around my Somerset training.

?That is easy but if I have to be with the national squad then I have to stop work at a certain time, get on my bike and trek downtown. I have to leave work and it is too time consuming and I don?t have that kind of time anymore.?

The national team panel of selectors now comprises of chairman Arnold Manders, Lionel Thomas, team captain Clay Smith, interim coach Wendell Smith and James.